7 of the coolest science jobs in the world

There’s a whole world of careers that you can pursue with your science degree. You could be a forensic anthropologist or a biochemist or a marine biologist. Not cool enough?

Science is one of the most fascinating sectors to be a part of. As a scientist, you’re researching important breakthroughs, solving medical dilemmas and making new discoveries about the world around us.

But, even with all that excitement, sometimes scientists need something a little bit extra. You might have a passion for science but the thought of being in a lab all the time makes you shiver. You might want to mix your love of science with a completely different creative streak. You could be an adrenaline junkie, who wants to put that desire into scientific innovation.

Luckily, there is more to science than meets the eye. Science branches into countless jobs around the world. In fact, some of the craziest and coolest jobs have deep, scientific routes. Check out these awesome science jobs for a very different calling.

Firework designer

Also known as pyrotechnic engineers, firework designers work with explosives and reactive chemicals to create firework displays. A degree in chemical engineering or chemical equivalent is necessary for this, as a firework designer would need to have an extensive knowledge of how chemicals react to create their optimal firework displays. In addition to a knowledge of chemistry, an aspiring fireworks designer would also need to know physics to understand, create and time a controlled explosion and firework display.

Sexologist

For a different kind of excitement, sexology brings together a whole host of sciences. A sexologist studies human sexuality, including interests and behaviours. It brings in elements of biology, medicine, psychology, epidemiology and sociology. Sexologists study everything from puberty and sexual orientation to the mechanics of sexual intercourse and sexual dysfunctions. In 2010, Dublin City University was the first Irish university to have a master’s degree in sexology. From a scientific point of view, biology would be one of the most beneficial undergraduate degrees to have when pursuing a career in sexology.

Cave diver

While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking of cool science jobs, cave divers are very much in the scientific realm. Depending on what you are diving for, a degree in marine biology, environmental anthropology, or even a background in data science would be beneficial in an underwater career. Though it may seem exotic, unique and unbelievably cool, cave diving comes with a lot of risks; both in deep and shallow underwater caves, most of which don’t include coming across dangerous animals. On top of your scientific background, you will need extensive training to embark on your cave diving career.

Venom milker

The main ingredient in creating an antidote to snake venom is the venom itself. This is where venom milkers come into play. Considered an extremely dangerous job, venom milkers essentially extract venom from live snakes and use it to develop antivenoms, which not only cure symptoms from the venoms themselves, but can also be used in remedies for non-snake related problems, such as strokes and tumours. Knowledge in zoology or more specifically, herpetology (the study of amphibians and reptiles), would be of benefit to this profession, along with intense focus and nerves of steel.

Food chemist

Naturally, the chemistry strand is the most relevant to this career path. You will also probably be a natural problem solver, looking for solutions to problems within the food industry. This job is mainly lab-based, researching and analysing chemical properties of food in order to develop new food products or improve existing ones. For science graduates with an overwhelming interest in food, this is the dream job. Like we said, regardless of the specifics of your food chemist journey, a strong background in chemistry is a good start.

Space psychologist

If you’re interested in a career that crosses the line between heavily technical science and life science, a space psychologist might be your dream job. Space psychology is the study of the mental wellbeing of astronauts and how they cope in the rigorous conditions of space. With increasing advancements in the world of space travel, this job could become more important and in demand in the not too distant future. Space psychologists advise panels on which astronauts are most suited to certain missions ahead of flights, along with developing coping strategies to help them stay calm while on the flight. Top degrees in psychology and science would be a start for this job.

Storm chaser

The more official term is an atmospheric and space scientist, but whatever way you paint it, it’s still pretty cool. Storm-chasing scientists don’t just do this for kicks. The data they collect from chasing storms is used to accurately predict killer storms in the future. As a storm chaser, you would investigate atmospheric details and interpret meteorological data. Knowledge of meteorology would be an essential asset if you plan on chasing storms for scientific purposes. Physics and atmospheric science would also be a benefit to this career, along with a decent set of wheels with low mileage.

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Jenny was the Careers Editor at Siliconrepublic.com up to June 2019 and was later appointed Deputy Editor in 2020. When she’s not writing about the science and tech industry, she’s writing short stories and attempting novels. She continuously buys more books than she can read in a lifetime and pretty stationery is her kryptonite. She also believes seagulls to be the root of all evil and her baking is the stuff of legends.